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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Jan;303(1):69-83.
doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05727-8. Epub 2020 Aug 10.

The effects of a music and singing intervention during pregnancy on maternal well-being and mother-infant bonding: a randomised, controlled study

Verena Wulff  1 , Philip Hepp  2   3 , Oliver T Wolf  4 , Percy Balan  5 , Carsten Hagenbeck  5 , Tanja Fehm  5 , Nora K Schaal  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of a music and singing intervention during pregnancy on maternal well-being and mother-infant bonding: a randomised, controlled study

Verena Wulff et al. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Stress and impaired mother-infant bonding during pregnancy can lead to adverse effects for the expectant mother and the unborn child. The present study investigates whether a prenatal music and singing intervention can improve maternal well-being as well as mother-infant bonding.

Methods: A total of 172 pregnant women took part in this prospective, randomised, three-armed (music, singing or control group) study. Depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, maternal well-being and mother-infant bonding were assessed with visual analogue scales and questionnaires before the intervention phase (30th week of gestation) and afterwards (36th week of gestation). Additionally, immediate changes regarding experienced stress and mood from before until after the music and singing interventions were explored with questionnaires as well as saliva samples (for cortisol, alpha-amylase and oxytocin determination).

Results: Regarding immediate effects, both interventions showed positive effects on the emotional state, stress (cortisol) and bonding (oxytocin). Additionally, the singing group showed a larger reduction in cortisol and a larger improvement in valence than the music group. Looking at more prolonged effects, significant effects on general self-efficacy and perceived closeness to the unborn child (measured with a visual analogue scale) were found. No significant effects were revealed for the mother-infant bonding questionnaire and for depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: In the present study, promising effects of music and in particular singing on maternal well-being and perceived closeness during pregnancy appeared. Prenatal music and singing interventions could be an easy to implement and effective addition to improve mood and well-being of the expectant mother and support mother-infant bonding.

Trial registration number: DRKS00012822, date of registration: 17.10.2017.

Keywords: Maternal well-being; Mother–infant bonding; Music; Pregnancy; Singing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sample sizes at the different stages of the total project. The focus of the present manuscript lies on the effects of the intervention during pregnancy and therefore only T1 and T2 are considered
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Development of SAM valence scores from pre to post intervention. Both groups show a decrease from pre to post (p < .001). The singing group shows a larger reduction of the mean SAM valence score indicating a larger improvement in subjective perceived pleasure than the music group
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Amount of the alternation of salivary cortisol in the music and singing group. Pictured are the mean difference-scores from pre to post intervention. The singing group shows a larger stress reduction visible through a larger reduction of salivary cortisol indicating less stress after the intervention (p = .001)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Development of VAS (closeness to the baby) scores from the first to the second time of measurement, pictured for each group separately. All groups reported a higher perceived closeness to the baby at the second time of measurement compared to the first point (p < .001). A significant time*group interaction was visible (p = .047) as the singing group showed the largest improvement
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Development of general self-efficacy (ASKU mean scores). A significant interaction between time and group was revealed (p = .026). The values in the singing group increased significantly (p = .038), whereas the increase for the music group was non-significant and the control group even showed a descriptively decrease in self-efficacy (p ≥ .109)
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